Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 43, Number 18, Decatur, Adams County, 22 January 1945 — Page 1

« We Must Win the Wai f All Else Is Chores!

Vol XUII. No. 18. *i

PLANES SMASH RETREATING NAZI ARMOR

Soviet Armies Race Forward

One Spearhead Is Whin 182 Miles Os Berlin Prussian Fortress Os Insterburg Far To Northeast Falls BULLETIN London, Jan. 22—,(UP)— The vanguard of massive Russian forces rapidly racing westward through woiand captured the rail junction of Gniezno, 166 miles east of Berlin, today. London, Jan. 22 — (UP) —Marshal Gregory Zhukov’s Red army raced’westward over the frozen Polish plains today in a lightning sweep through three big rail owns, stabbing one unchecked spearhead within 182 miles of Berlin. Far to the northeast, other Soviet forces stormed and captured the East Prussian fortress of insterburg and a Russian spearlead was thrust through the testers border area of the provnce toward the Baltic in an effort to trap 200,000 Germans. Zhukov’s first White Russian irmy and Marshal Ivan S. Konre’s first Ukrainian army were idvanclng flank to flank in a mammoth/ sweep toward Berlin >n a 200-mile front between northvest Poland and invaded Silesia. Marshal Staliq, in a special irder of the day broadcast from Moscow, announced that Zhurov’s forces had captured Inowro--law, key rail junction 20 miles southwest of Torun and 62 miles lortheast of Poznan; Aleksand■ow, 10 miles southeast of Torun; -.abiszyn, 13 miles south of Bydgoszcz, 28 miles from the German torder, and 182 miles east of Berin, aud Guiewkowo, 12 tulles southwest of Torun. Zhukov’s new gains in the lakelotted region northeast of Poztan brought hfs forces abreast of ■Conve’s, which farther south were driving deeper into Silesia ind nearing its capital city of Breslau pn the Oder. Troops of the third White Russian army captured Inster)urg, only , 57 miles from the key Saet Prussian fortress of Koengsberg, in a driving advance of 16 miles beyond Gumbinnen. At the same time Marshal Konitantin Kgßokossovsky's fosces vere slashing toward the Baltic it the southwestern corner of Sast Prussia and threatening to sut off an estimated 200,0Q0 Nazis n the Junkers stronghold. The simultaneous Soviet blows vere crumpling the Nazi East Prussian lines Co an extent which raised the possibility the Gernans would be unable to make a ’Tobruk” stand there as they did (Turn To Page 6, Column 4) o State To Take Over Highway 101 Tuesday IDick Boch, assistant district superintendent for the elate highway ommiesion stated today Chat plans re now complete and that highway Oil, from 234 south through Pleaant Mills to St. will be formally aken over tomorrow. The signs.have been erected and he first job will be to .remove the now and ice ae fast as possible, ater, when the weather permits, he grading and other work will be 'Cartel. Th&Bevlen miles of addition--1 road will be under the direction I Homer Winteregg of Monroe, r)io has chafge of H 24 and part of 7 and 33. 'Mr/ Boch notified Hernan Haugk, 'county road superinendent, Saturday of the change .■hich relieves the county from care f the highway. o TEMPERATURE READING DEMOCRAT THERMOMETER 8;JO «. 25 10:00 a. m —- 27 Noon ...... 29 p. m. | — 30 WEATHER Fair tonight and Tuesday, Colder except In extreme north portion to 14 IgI( t, warmer in noris portion Tuesday.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

November Court Term Is Closed Saturday The Adams circuit court ie in vacation uiUil February 5, when the new term opens. The November term closed Saturday. The jury commissioners will meet next Monday to name the members of the grand and petit juries. The November term was a busy one, with the meeting of the grand jury and the returning of two indictments, one changing Orval Johnson with the murder of hie wife, iMary iE. Johnson on December 7. The Johnson case will be carried over to the February term. —— —o— Carrier Planes Os Third Fleet Renew Attacks '-■W' Tokyo Reports More Than 550 Planes In Raids On Okinawa Pearl Harbor, Jan. 22—(UP)— Tokyo broadcasts said that more than 550 American carrier-based planes today attacked Okinawa Island in the Ryukyu chain, the second successive day of attack by Admiral William F. Halsey's third fleet. The attacks, which have not yet been confirmed by un official American communique, appeared to be growing stronger. The Japanese said an attack by 450 planes was carried out against Formosa and Okinawa for nine hours yesterday. • Today the Japanese said that installations had suffered damage in the U. S. assault and that 45 attacking planes were shot down and 34 damaged. Tokyo also reported that about 20 B-24 liberator bombers from U. S. bases at Kunming, China, raided Hong Kong yesterday, but gave no further details of the attack. A Tokyo broadcast recorded by United Press at San Francisco reported that a "group” of American task forces was deployed in the waters east of Taito City. Taito is situated on the southeast coast of Formosa. It is the southern terminus of the Kirun railway and its airport lies on the Hong Kong-to-Takao air route. Beside the “group” of task forces reported off Taito, the enemy broadcast mentioned still another surface force —adjacent to Taiwan," but did not specify its location. (Turn To Page 5, Column 4) o —— George R. Steele Is Taken By Death Funeral Services Tuesday Afternoon George R. Steele, 62, retired farmer, died early Sunday morning at the home of a sister. Mrs. Maxine Barkley, at Willshire, 0., where he had resided for the past six months after retiring because of ill health. Death was caused by complications. He was born at Peterson September 10, 1882, the son of Robert and Minnie Stevens-Steele. He lived on a farm east of Decatur for many years. He was a member of the Loyal Order of Moose. Surviving are the step-mother, Mrs. Harriett Steele of Convoy, 0.,; three sisters, Mrs. Barkley, Mrs. Alta Venis of Blnffton and Mrs. Cleo Krugh of Rockford, O.; and two brothers, Roy Steele of Decatur and John of Liberty Center. One sister preceded him in death. Funeral services will be held at 2 o’clock Tuesday afternoon at the Black funeral home, with Rev. J. T. Trueax officiating. Burial will be in the Decatur cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 o’clock tonight Members of the Moose lodge are requested to meet at the funeral home at 7:39 o'clock this evening to conduct services.

Yankees Less Than 60 Miles From Manila Tarlac And La Paz Overrun By Yankee Soldiers On Luzon General MacArthur’s Headquarters, Luzon, Jan. 22. —(UP) —Sixth army forces rolled south across the central Luzon plains in a 10-mile front today less than 60 miles from Manila and 20 miles from the great Clark Field system of airdromes. Luzon’s second largest city, Tarlac, and La Paz, 10 miles to the east southeast, were overrun Saturday in the first hours of the resumed march on the Philippines capital and the advance was continuing against negligible resistance. The Americans were 70 miles inland— approximately half-way to Manila bay—from the Lingayen gulf invasion breaches at La Paz. It seemed likely they would reach and perhaps capture Clark Field without further pause for re-group-ing. (A Japanese communique recorded by the FCC said more than 6.000 Americans had been killed, wounded or were missing on Luzon since the invasion two weeks ago.) Tarlac’s two airfields were captured in good condition, bnt the speed of the southward advance indicated the American command would not waste time moving up supplies and repairing the airstrips when the vastly superior Clark Field soon may be within its grasp. The Americans resumed their advance on Manila Saturday after other units further consolidated their east flank with a new crossing of the Agno river at Santa Maria, 20 miles east of the original crossing at Bayambang, and the capture of Rosales, Balungao and San Leon, along a six mile front five miles below Santa Maria. Secure from a counter-attack from the east, the Americans moved cautiously into Tarlac soon after 8 a. m., yesterday against only sniper Are. They found jhe city, a provincial capital and most important highway hub north of Manila, in smouldering ruins from Japanese demolitions. Frank Hewlett, United Press (Turn To Page 2, Column 5) — ——o Annual Report Made By Security Board Ask Extension Os Insi/rance System Washington.. Jan. 22—(UP)— The social security board offered its program for “cradle-to-grave” social security today in a report expected to set the pattern for President Roosevelt’s forthcoming recommendations to congress. The board’s proposals, contained in its annual report, were basically the same as those it made a year ago—to broaden the coverage of old age and survivors’ insurance, liberalize unemployment benefits and establish programs of medical and disability insurance. Tfie war-minded congress gave them little attention last year. The new recommendations were expected to get. greater consideration because both the Republican and Democratic... parties urged broader social security coverage in their 1944 platforms and President Roosevelt made a similar request in his annual message to congress two weeks ago. Mr. Roosevelt promised a special message with his recommendations would be offered later. * The board again urged that the old age insurance system be extended to include more than 20.000,000 additional workers — those in public, agricultural and domestic service, employes of firms with fewer than eight workers and non-profit organizations and the self-employed—who are (Tur* To Page 2, Column 5)

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Monday, January 22, 1945.

Wilson Arrives To Take Dill’s Post

: -n i Jg * z wsrf - .... FIELD MARSHAL SIR HENRY MAITLAND WILSON, right, veteran of the war in the Middle East, arrives in Washington, D. C., to assume his duties as head of the British joint staff mission in this country, a post left vacant by the death of Field Marshal Sir John Dill. Wilson will also serve as personal representative of Primo Minister Winston Churchill in military discussions with President Roosevelt. He is shown above being welcomed by Gen. George ('. Marshall.

G.O.P. Leaders Meet At Hoosier Capital Brownell Submits 8-Point Proposal Indiamapolis, Jan. 22. —(UP) —Republican national chairman Herbert Brownell. Jr., today submitted to the G. O. P. national committee an eight-point proposal for strengthening party organization as a step toward returning to national power in the 1946 and 1948 eleclions. Riding with his proposal also appeared to be Brownell’s own prospects for continuing as national chairman. Browliell reportedly would like to continue his present unsalaried part-time status. Some committeemen, however, want to make it a full-time paid job. Some also fear that Brownell’s continuance would give an undue advantage for the 1948 presidential nomination to Gov. Thomas E. Dewey, who picked Brownell to run his unsuccessful 1944 campaign. Brownell sought to meet that latter challenge in his opening statement before the national committee meeting he called to con-, sider ways and means of strengthening party organization. “Any attempted use of party machinery for the advancement or blocking of any individual or bis personal ambitions shall be completely prohibited," Brownell said. In offering his program, Brownell predicted that if carried out intelligently it would win for the Republican party in the 1946 congres(Turn To Pagie 2, Column 4) '

Pfc. Robert Dull Is Reported Wounded In Action In Belgium

Pfc. Robert Dull, son of Mr. and Mrs. Buford Dull of Wren. Ohio and husband of Mrs. Evelyn Lobsiger Dull, 110 South Eighth street, was wounded in Belgium on January 4. the war department notified his wife Mrs. Dull resides with her mother, Mrs. Ransome Barkley, at the 'labove address. The wounded soldier was a member of a medical corps and went overseas last October. He received basic training at Camp McKain, Miss. Pfc. Dull entered the army in February, 1943 and prior to that time was employed by the Fruebauf Trailer company, in Fort Wayne. He is s graduate of the Wren high school. gis father is a foreman at the ’local General Electric plant. The war department's telegram

Taxi Stand Fired As Oil Heater Explodes An oil heater in the Melton taxi stand at the southeast corner of the court, house grounds, exploded at about 6:30 o’clock this morning. The fire department was called. The only damage to the stand was from smoke, the firemen extinguishing the blaze before the flames swept the booth. ’ o Charges Manpower Waste In Navy Yard Sen. Mead Assails Wastage Os Labor Washington, Jan. 22. — (UP) — Sen. James M. Mead. D.°, N. V.. told tfle senate today that at' the Norfolk navy yard—said to be short 4.000 essential workers —a war .n---vestigating committee last week found “excess manpower, wasted labor, hoarded labor, and enforced loafing.” . The war investigating chairman angrily told senators that iso many men are assigned to some jobs that they cannot even all squeeze into the place. Most of them stand around outside while a few work.” Mead said workmen spend “valuable time and materials” making personal trinkets for supe.riore. “While we were in the ward,” he continued, “work was being done on an ornate checker board and on a special table for opening oysters. "Tli'e table was intended for use at just one oyster feast to be at,(Turn To Page 0, Column 4)

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stated that the wounded soldier was a patient in a hospital in France.

American Planes Pounce On Germans Withdrawing From Ardennes Salient

Exempt War Workers From 'Closed Shop' No Forcing Os War Workers Join Union Washington, Jan. 22 — (UP) — The house military affairs committee voted today to exempt workers assigned to war jobs under proposed “work-or-else” legislation from closed shop provisions of union contracts.” The vote on the issue was reported to have been 14 to 10 in favor of an amendment to the May bill providing that any worker assigned to a war job or who volunteered for a job listed as essential by selective service would not be required to join a union. Rep. Walter G. Andrews, R. N. Y., offered the amendment. Committee chairman Andrew J. May. iD„ Ky„ sponsor ot the bill, said the committee expected to complete action on the measure late today. The committee also approved an amendment providing that draft boards would not assign men to war jobs until after the lapse of a period specified by the selective service director for filling designated war jobs with volunteers. Such volunteers would be exempt, from closed shop provisions under the Andrews amendment. On a tie vote of 12 to 12.. the committee rejected an amendment offered by Rep. Paul Stewart, D., Okla., to require the listing of agriculture as a "critical” occupation and to reaffirm the so-called Tydings amendment protecting farm manpower. However, the committee approved another amendment which in effect protected the so called Tydings amendment to the selective service act, which provides for deferment of irreplaceable farm workers. May, who had announced earlier that he would move io reinstate work battalions for workers who refused war jobs, failed to offer the proposal. The committee eliminated that provision last week and substituted civil penalties. The: committee hopes to get the bill to the house floor by midweek. o Would Force Auto Owners Be Insured Bill Is Introduced In State Assembly •Indianapolis. Jan. 22 — (UP) — ■Hoosiers would be denied motor vehicle licenses unless they showed proof of liability insurance, under the terms of a bill introduced iu the house of the Indiana general assembly today. .The bill offered by Rep. Stanley Kwiat, D. East Chicago, would require applicants for automobile permits to present positive proof that ■they were insured for accident liability. Under the present law, insurance or financial responsibility must be proved in the event of an accident involving personal injuries or extesive property damage. Other house bills, among 11 introduced before the assembly adjourned until 10 a. in. tomorrow, would: Prevent mortuaries from advertising prices or free services. Increase the daily maximum aid for destitute children under the welfare program from 75 cents to $1Create a commission to codify criminal laws, consisting of five legislators, and appropriate 310,000 for the expenses of the codification. Increase retirement payments for school teachers from 3960 to Democratic minority house members sought to aanend HBII4, which would increase the state forestry fund levy from three to five mills. They proposed to take the money from the general fund surplus, rather than increase the tax rate. But (Turn To Fags 6, Column 5).

Henry Wallace Nominated As Commerce Head Ex-Vice President Is Nominated After Jesse Jones Ouster Washington. Jan. ■ 22 —(UP) — President Roosevelt, risking a certain senate fight, formally nominated ex-vice president Henry A. Wallace today to be secretary of commerce —a job for which his predecessor, Jesse H. Jones, said Wallace is unsuited. With the cabinet post would go supervision of the multi-billion dollar financial operations of the Reconstruction Finance Corp., which Jones has headed since 1933. Most of the anticipated senate fight is expected to center around Wallace’s qualification to do that job. Only an hour before his nomination went to the senate, Wallace issued a statement in which he said his conception of his new job was that it would be "to promote a maximum of. national employment by private business.” “Government must accept, the duty of seeing that all men in health have jobs," he said. “The common man.” he added, "need not tolerate less prosperity in time of peace than he had in time of war." Meanwhile, presidential secretary Stephen T. Early told reporters that the White House “had no knowledge" that Jones intended to make public the exchange of letters in which the president told Jones that he would have to go to make room for Wallace. Jones called reporters to his RFC offices last night and distributed copies of the correspondence. The Texan's reply to the president stated that he did not believe Walldce was suited for the job. ■ Early said there “might have been” some discussion in the executive office about the advisability of later releasing the exchange of letters. He insisted, however, that nothing whatso(Turn To Page 2, Column fi) 0 . ' Dr. L. E. Somers Dies Last Night Former Local Doctor Is Taken By Death Funeral arrangements for Dr. L. E. Somers. 56, of Fort Wayne, a former Decatur physician, who died suddenly of a heart attack at the Lutheran hospital Sunday evening, will be deferred until it has been determined if. contact can be made with the son. Capt. Gerald H. Somers, who is serving with American troops on the western battle front. It was announced from the Elzey and Son funeral home in Ossian, where the body was taken, that burial would be made in the Ossian cemetery. The body will be moved to the Somers resi.denca,. 2702 Fairfield Avenue, Fort Wayne, tonight or tomorrow. A native of Wells county, Dr, Somers practiced me’dicine and surgery in this city for several years, moving to Waynedale in 1934, where he still maintained an office. When his son entered the army he kept his son's office open in Fort Wayne and moved his residence to that city. He was a member of the Masonic lodge, the Presbyterian church and the Allen county medical society. He is a former member of the Adams county medical society and was prominent here in his profession for many years. Besides bis son, he is survived by his widow.

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More Than 800 Os Nazi Vehicles Are Destroyed, Damaged By Yankee Warplanes Paris, Jan. 22—(UP) —American warplanes pounced on an estimated 3,000 German tanks, truck, and other vehicles wheeling eastward in a major withdrawal from the flattened Ardennes salient today and destroyed or damaged more than 800 of them. Thunderbolt and lightning dive bombers dipped down through broken clouds to hammer the jam-packed German columns and spread panic and devastation in the ranks of the forces writing off the last of Marshal Karl Von Rundstedt’s gains in his costly winter offensive. Supreme headquarters described the aerial killing as a rival to that of the Falaise gap which broke the spine of German resistance in western France. By midafternoon the 19th tactical air command of the ninth air force . announced that the damage it had done to the retreating Nazis surpassed its previous record day. last, Sept. 1 when 833 vehicles were destroyed, or damaged in the Mezieres-Metz . area. Beginning at 9 a. m., the light- [ nings and thunderbolts slashed : ceaselessly at the tightly packed I German columns. One was ! caught near Prum. east of St. Vith, the other north of Diekirch Both were wheeling back into the Siegfried fortifications on the roads to Cologne and Bonn in the Rhineland. A reconnaissance plane spotted the two columns of about 1,50(1 vehicles each in the big pullout from the last strip of Belgian soil held by the Germans. The thunderbolts and lightnings roared out to the attack. They dropped down on the columns, as low as 500 feet in some cases, and found their targets so concentrated that in the words of one pilot, “we couldn't miss.” One airman said there were more vehicles in the column than he saw iu the Falaise gap last summer at the start of the Allied sweep across France. Surging forward in the wake of the German pullout. American troops moved within shooting distance of St. Vith, last Belgian base in German hands. A front dispatch said the doughboys were poised tor the entry into St. Vith, and its fall was expected at any time. Lt. Gen. George S. Pattonls third army forces crossed the Bastogne-St. Vith road near the center of the salient and plunged east. Lt. Gen. Courtney H. Hodges' first army units captured Born in a stiff battle, and advanced on St. Vith, the last Belgian base in German hands. Hodges’ troops counted eisht disabled self-propelled guns, four tanks, 120 dead Germans, and 165 prisoners at the close ol business in Born last night. At dawn they pushed on more than half a mile, reaching a point three miles from St. Vith. To the west, the 75th division gained more than half a mile toward St. Vith against light opposition. The third army's sixth armored division cleared Hoffelt and Lullange. 10 and 12 miles northeast of Bastogne, in a mile and a half advance reaching Stockem. Snows Limit Action On Italian Front Rome. Jan. 22— (UP)— Eighth army units repulsed an artillerysupported German raiding party attempting to attack positions northeast of Alfonsine, headquarters reported today as snows again closed in the fifth army front and limited action to light patrols. A Mediterranean Allied air force communique reported 17 planes missing from 1,50 c sorties yesterday. Escorted heavy bombers attacked oil targe’s and » rail yard in Austria, fighters and fighter bombers concentrated on rail comin northern Italy aud coastal aircraft struck at- ehippins iu the Adriatic.